Thank you, Night Star! It's comforting to know there is a place here. You are the kindest hostess ever.

My Grandma passed this year, and I know it's going to be a hard Christmas for my Dad and his siblings. We all miss her no-BS view of the world, but
our missing her is nothing compared to theirs, I know.

You are one of the sweetest people on Earth, and I hope the best for you, in this Season and always!

So sorry to hear about your Grandmother. This will only be our second Christmas without my Mom. Still kind of new for us all, and 9 years now without
my Dad. They both loved Christmas and would want us all to enjoy it and we do. I have the cutest pic of my Mom and Dad both wearing reindeer antlers
and a red Rudolph nose. LOL! I bring it out every Christmas and smile every year when I see that.

Thanksgiving is the time that we usually have our family reunion. This frees up family to participate in their own individual Christmas traditions.
This year for a huge variety of reasons, only a handful of my humongous family could make it, so we invited everyone we knew that had no family
locally or no family at all, to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. It went amazingly well. In fact it went so well that we decided to repeat it for
Christmas.

I feel so honored and humbled to have so many people that want to have Christmas dinner with us. The word was sent out that all that have no place to
go for Christmas are welcome. I am still getting calls from people that want to come. My numbers are up to 45 at this point and may go as high as 60
or more. The largest number of folk I have entertained at my house was around 75, that was including the children in the count.

The kids love coming out to the country. They love that they actually have to go over the river and through the woods to get to grandma's house. They
love interacting with the horses, cows, goats, chickens and turkeys. They think of it is a cross between being at a park, a petting zoo, the lake, and
the woods. There is just so much to do outside, that they actually forget about their video games and TV most of the time they are here.

As Night Star states, "life isn't always rainbows and lollipops, I can surely attest to that, as I am going through some really tough times right now
myself. In fact, I doubt I will even be in my home come this time next year, so I hope this will be a joyous and memorable Christmas, that will be
shared with family, friends, friends of friends, friends of family, and those that just don't want to be alone or want a good meal.

This really is my favorite time of year, because it is a time that people share the joy of just being in the company of others. I wish all of you a
Merry Christmas and I hope the New Year will come with happiness and blessing that will carry us throughout the year to come. Though life is sure to
also come with hardships, some pain, and some suffering, may we remain strong and courageous through our trials in life.

I got that I really did and don't think that my rather long winded response was aimed at you personally but more of the crack that finally broke the
damn. I've had at least a month of people talking about how Christmas isn't Christmas anymore or that Christmas is only enjoyable when you have
children and that presents and the like, are destroying Christmas so I think it was more about the belief that if you enjoy getting presents and stuff
for Christmas it meant you were doing it correctly. It honestly wasn't about you or an attack on the people who are alone at Christmas, I've spent a
couple on my own and while I put a brave face on it and told people "Yeah I'm fine. I get to do it my way" it was really just a mask to the boredom so
yh it was an attack on the idea that if you enjoy getting gifts you have the wrong message for Christmas.

Awwww, what a beautiful soul! It sounds like you will have a busy and lovely Christmas. I hope you are somehow able to keep your home Hun. My Husband
and I thought we would have to move last year, but we got lucky. You never know. Merry Christmas to you and all our ATS family as well!

I have a hawk that I do battle with every time I feed the fish in my pond. The fish go into a frenzy near the top of the water, fighting over the food
pellets I give them.

The hawk thinks he should be able to grab a couple, you know, easy pickens. I stave him off with a palm frond, telling him, "No!" "You have to earn
your catch!" He gets upset with me and tries to dive bomb me. It really is a funny sight to see.

I guess since it is Christmas I should offer an olive branch to my hawk, and just let him take a fish. Now that you have made me feel guilty.

Oh, Nightstar, I totally appreciate your thread about Christmas not always being postcard perfect for everyone.

I know so many that this season reminds them of those they miss terribly and those who know this is their last Christmas with a loved one. And there
are those who don't have family and friends and parties and gifts.

There are probably many, many ATSers who fit that bill; truth be told.

Thank you for that reminder. I know your wish would be for each of us to find peace any way we can and that is doesn't mean just expensive gifts and
major parties and that if the holidays arn't your favorite you shouldn't feel alone-there are those at ATS that understand. Thanks for at least
speaking that sentiment-I am sure it was appropriate for many here just to read the words.

I so appreciate your sensitivity for others that cannot experience extreme happiness at this time. And they doesn't make you weird or not normal.

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